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CANADA, British Columbia: On 27 February 2019, Mr. Justice Bowden in the Supreme Court ruled 14-year-old transgender boy A.B. has the capacity to consent to his own medical treatments and should be allowed to proceed with hormone injections to help transition from a female to a male body without delay, despite the objection of his father.Reasons for Judgment: A.B. v. C.D. and E.F. 2019 BCSC 254 276.66kb 27 FEB

CANADA, Ontario: On 28 February 2019, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice Divisional Court dismissed a challenge from elementary teachers and a civil liberties group over the Progressive Conservative government's repeal of a modernized sex-ed curriculum. The EFTO argued that changes made by the government infringed teachers' freedom of expression and put students at risk by failing to be inclusive. The Court said that it is the role of elected officials, not the courts, to make legislation and policy decisions. Reasons for Decision: EFTO et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen 2019 ONSC 1403 415.84kb 28 FEB 19

UNITED STATES, International: On 26 February 2019, the United Methodist Church worldwide conference reportedly made a decision that pleased traditionalists, but raised doubts about the church's modern motto: open hearts, open minds, open doors. Church officials and lay members voted (438-384) to place a ban on gay and lesbian clerics and the officiating of same-sex marriages.

UNITED STATES, Missouri: On 26 February 2019, the State Supreme Court ruled (5-2) that transgender male student R.M.A., who was barred from the boys' restroom and locker room has the right to sue the the Blue Springs school district for sex discrimination, finding transgender people are protected from discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act.Memorandum and Order: R.M.A. v. Blue Springs R-IV School District and Anor No. SC96683 216.40kb 26 FEB

EUROPEAN UNION: On 14 February 2019, the European Parliament adopted resolution (B8-0101/2019 155.96kb) on the rights of intersex people. It stipulated that European Union member states should legislate better policies that protected intersex individuals, especially from unnecessary surgery and discrimination.

UNITED STATES, Federal: On 21 February 2019, US District Judge John F Walter ruled that 2-year-old Ethan Dvash-Banks twin son of homosexual married couple Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks has been an American citizen since birth, handing a defeat to the US government, which had only granted the status to his brother Aiden. The government had only granted citizenship to Aiden, who DNA tests showed was the biological son of Andrew, a US citizen. Ethan was conceived from the sperm of Elad Dvash-Banks, an Israeli citizen. Both children were born by the same surrogate mother minutes apart. Civil Minutes - General: Dvash-Banks v. Pompeo CV 18-523-JFW(JCx) 174.67kb 21 FEB 19

UNITED STATES, Federal: On 21 February 2019, US District Judge R Brooke Jackson denied a US State Department request to stay his September, 2018 order which prohibited the agency from relying upon its binary-only gender marker policy to withhold an accurate passport from Lambda Legal client Dana Zzyym, a US Navy veteran who is intersex and nonbinary, and does not identify as male or female. Order on Motion to Stay Judgment: Dana Alix Zzyym v. Michael R Pompeo and Anor No. 15-cv-02362-RBJ 62.56kb 21 FEB 19

TAIWAN: On 21 February 2019, the Taiwanese cabinet reportedly unveiled the proposed draft law (The Enforcement Act of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748) that would give same-sex couples similar legal protections of marriage as heterosexuals, but marriage in civil law would remain defined as between a man and woman.

UNITED STATES, South Dakota: On 19 February 2019, the State Supreme Court ruled 3-0 (2 disqualified) against retired police official Debra Lee Anderson seeking state retirement system survivor benefits after her wife Deborah Cady, a former police captain who died of cancer, because they were not married before Cady retired in 2012 and State Consolidated Law 3-12-94 only allows for a state employee's survivor benefits to go to a surviving spouse.Opinion: Debra Lee Anderson v. South Dakota Retirement System No. 2019 S.D. 11 118.80kb 20 FEB 19

INDIA, Delhi: On 20 February 2019, Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao in the Delhi High Court directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Delhi University to work out a way to help a transgender who is seeking change of name and gender, from male to female, in education records, saying that when the Supreme Court has recognised their right to declare their gender identity, statutory bodies like the education board and the varsity ''ave to rise to the occasion to help her''.

UNITED STATES, New Jersey: On 19 February 2019, Governor Phil Murphy reportedly signed Bill A-3975 doubling paid family leave from six to twelve weeks and expanding the definition of family under the new law from spouses, children, parents, parents-in-law and domestic partners to also include grandparents and grandchildren. The measure also increases the amount of the benefit from two-thirds of pay to 85 percent of pay, though it caps the amount. The most recent estimates show the benefit would go to $859 per week, up from $632.

INDIA, Gujarat: On 18 February 2019, the Gujarat government 'Transgender Welfare Board' was reported to have been constituted by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide social security to the community.

UNITED STATES, Federal: On 15 February 2019, US District Judge Leonie M Brinkema granted in part a preliminary injunction and ordered the US Department of Defense and Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to halt discharge proceedings against HIV-positive members of the U.S. Air Force.Memorandum Opinion Richard Roe, et al., v. Patrick M Shanahan, et al. No. 1:18-cv-1565 (LMB/IDD) 2.72MB 15 FEB

UNITED STATES, Federal: On 14 February 2019, the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released Formal Opinion 485 giving judges guidance related to their options for performing same-sex marriages under the Model Code of Judicial Conduct.Opinion: Formal Opinion 485 226.17kb 14 FEB

UNITED STATES, Tennessee: On 08 February 2019, State Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued the opinion concluding that ''For the purposes of the hate-crime enhancement (Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-114) , a crime committed against a person because that person manifests a gender that is different than his or her biological gender at birth - i.e. a crime committed against a person because he or she is transgender - is thus necessarily committed because of, at least in part, the person's gender''. Opinion: Sentence Enhancement for Hate Crimes Against Transgender Individuals 75.00kb 08 FEB 19

UNITED STATES, Iowa: On 13 February 2019, an Iowa District Court jury decided that Iowa prison warden Patti Wachtendorf discriminated against transgender employee Jesse Vroegh by denying him the use of men's restrooms and locker rooms.

AUSTRALIA, Western Australia: On 12 February 2019, the Legislative Council passed the ''Gender Reassignment Amendment Bill 2018'' that deletes Section 15 (3) of the Gender Reassignment Act 2000 stipulating that ''A recognition certificate cannot be issued to a person who is married'', enabling transgender people to update their birth certificate without having to divorce their spouse. On 19 February 2019, the Act received Royal Assent.

TUNISIA: On 12 February 2019, it was reported that a 22-year old man identified only as Anas reported his being raped and assaulted by two thieves to the police in Sfax on 2 January. Following initial questioning he was subjected to a controversial enforced anal examination, the results of which was negative, charged with homosexual conduct and remanded in custody until his trial. On 11 February 2019, the men accused of attacking Anas reportedly received sentences of six months for homosexuality, with a further two months for physical assault and theft.

CAYMAN ISLANDS: On 11 February 2019, after three days of argument, the Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush same-sex marriage case concluded. Chief Justice Hon. Anthony Smellie is expected to rule in a few weeks.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: On 09 February 2019, Workplace Relations Commission Adjudication Officer Orla Jones reportedly found Beulah Print and Design discriminated against Jonathon Brennan under Section 3 of the Equal Status Act over its refusal to print invitations for Brennan and his long term partner's civil partnership ceremony, ordering the company to pay him €2,500.

UNITED STATES, Iowa: On 06 February 2019, US District Judge Stephanie M Rose ruled that Christian club Business Leaders in Christ is within its rights to deny leadership positions to LGBTQ students. The club previously barred a student from holding a leadership position in the group after they found out he was gay
 Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment: Business Leaders in Christ v. The University of Iowa, et al. No. 3:17-cv-00080-SMR-SBJ 344.60kb 06 FEB 19

UNITED STATES, Texas: On 06 February 2019, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled 3-0 in Nicole C Wittmer v. Phillips66 Company that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banning workplace sex discrimination does not cover bias based on gender identity
 Opinion: Nicole C Wittmer v. Phillips66 Company No. 18-20251 176.48kb 06 FEB 19

KENYA: On 06 February 2019, Justice Abigail Mshila rejected the agreement purportedly settling the case of Rev. Paul Warui, the Rev. James Maina and Archdeacon John Gachau, the Anglican clergymen accused of homosexuality, saying ''For the mediation agreement to be binding, the two respondents, Bishop Kagunda and the registered trustees of the Anglican Church of Kenya, must sign in person''. The court does not know Venerable Canon Gerald Muriithi and Venerable Samuel Waweru, the two people who signed the agreement and the mediation agreement is also not dated.

UNITED STATES, New Jersey: On 31 January 2019, Governor Phil Murphy reportedly signed Assembly Bill A1335 (Senate Bill S1569) into law. The Bill, modeled after a similar law that passed in California in 2011, requires public schools boards of education to adopt instruction that accurately portrays ''the political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, where appropriate''. The law does not apply to private schools.

HONG KONG: On 01 February 2019, Judge Thomas Au in the High Court denied applications for judicial review of three F2M transgender persons seeking to change the gender entry stated in their identity cards from female to male, saying (at para 22) that ''the change of gender entry stated in the ID card does not only concern the private right of the transgender person but also the wider public interest''.Judgment: Q, R and Tse Henry Edward v. Commisioner of Registration No. 229 of 2015 01 FEB 19